European Union deal watchdogs are seeking feedback on Microsoft Corp.’s fresh attempts to secure UK regulatory approval for its $69 billion takeover of Activision Blizzard Inc.
The European Commission, which already approved the deal in May, has circulated a series of questions to gaming firms to examine whether Microsoft’s new proposal to Britain’s Competition and Markets Authority would be pro-competitive, according to people familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The proposed UK remedy is intended to win over the CMA, which is re-thinking its veto of the transaction, and would give Ubisoft Entertainment SA rights to distribute Activision games. The proposal applies globally, except in the European Economic Area.
Read More: Microsoft-Activision Enters Final Boss Battle: Bloomberg Deals
A spokesperson for the commission said that it was “closely following the developments in the UK and assessing their potential impact” in the EU case. Microsoft didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment on the latest moves, which were reported earlier by Reuters.
The CMA is set to decide on the deal by Oct. 18.
(Updates with EU comments in fourth paragraph.)
